After a beautiful drive from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, a hike and swim at Ein Gedi, and a camel ride and lunch with the Bedouins, we checked in to our hotel. Rabbi Jason and Andrew led a discussion and had us each reflect on any connection we felt with Israel, along with what we were doing last month at this time and what we were doing next month at this time. Most of us felt that Birthright was much more than a vacation. Each of us had developed our own relationship with the land and people of Israel. Even though Israel is not our home, we feel a special connection to it, and we know Israel would welcome all of us with open arms.
On our final day in Israel, we truly experienced our connection to the land. We woke up at 4am to climb the historic mountain of Masada for sunrise. Masada is where a Jewish community committed suicide rather than face desecration, and where Jewish tourists and Israeli soldiers go to remember that Israel must be preserved as a Jewish community. After breakfast, we tiptoed into the freezing Dead Sea. In one morning, we experienced generations of Jewish history and closeness to Israel a top of a mountain and at the lowest point on earth.
Ben Wegener
About Me
- Cornell Hillel Taglit-Birthright Israel
- In January 2009, 32 Jewish Cornell students are traveling in Israel with Cornell Hillel on a 10 day Taglit - Birthright Israel trip. This blog chronicles their experiences during and after the trip to share with parents, family, and friends.
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Followers
Blog Archive
Itinerary
- Day 1: Tiberias
- Day 2: Banias River, Golan Heights
- Day 3: Safed, Rosh Hanikra
- Day 4: Kinneret, Beit Shean, Jerusalem
- Day 5: Jerusalem: Jewish Quarter, MAchane Yehuda Market
- Day 6: Shabbat in Jerusalam
- Day 7: Tel Avia: Independance Hal, Jaffa, Rabin Square
- Day 8:Jerusalem: Geopolitics of Jerusalem, Teedek program, Yad Vashem
- Day 9: Jerusalem: Mt. Herzl, Masada
- Last Day- Day 10: Dead Sea, Camel ride, Beit Guvrin Caves
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To provide positive and purposeful Jewish experiences for our students that are relevant to their lives. We do this in a pluralistic environment which affirms the authenticity and validity of each individual's personal Jewish identity.
ABOUT CORNELL HILLEL
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Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. Hillel student leaders, professionals and lay leaders are dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. Hillel helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning, and to support
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